Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Chengdu

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan province in China.

Jinli at Night 7
Jinli at Night 7

It sits in central Sichuan on the Chengdu Plain. This plain is famously known as the "Land of Abundance" and the "Country of Heaven." The Jin River flows directly through the city. As of the 2020 census, Chengdu had a population of 20,937,757 people. This makes it the fourth most populous city in China. It is the only Chinese city with over 20 million residents besides provincial-level municipalities.

The city is a massive hub for many different systems. It serves as an important center for economics, finance, and culture. It is also a major center for transportation, research, and communication. Chengdu is a leading financial hub. It ranked 35th globally on the 2021 Global Financial Centres Index. The economy is very diverse. It includes industries like machinery, automobiles, medical supplies, food, and information technology. More than 315 Fortune 500 companies have established branches in the city.

Chengdu is also a major center for science and education. It ranks 21st globally for scientific outputs. In Western China, it ranks second only to Xi'an. The city contains the highest number of universities and research institutes in the Western region. Notable institutions include Sichuan University and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. Other important schools are the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and Southwest Jiaotong University. The Chengdu University of Technology, Sichuan Normal University, and Xihua University also call the city home.

The history of Chengdu is incredibly long and unique. The city was founded by the Kingdom of Shu in the 4th century BC. It is the only Chinese settlement to keep its name unchanged for over two thousand years. This name has lasted through the imperial, republican, and communist eras. The name "Chengdu" may come from an old saying. It suggests a settlement needs one year to become a town, two to become a city, and three to become a metropolis. The character "cheng" may mean "turned into." The character "du" can mean a metropolis or a capital.

2014 Jinsha Gold Mask a
2014 Jinsha Gold Mask a

Archaeological finds show that people lived near Chengdu over four thousand years ago. The Sanxingdui and Jinsha cultures inhabited the area between the 18th and 10th centuries BC. These early people belonged to a bronze-wielding culture known as Shu.

Recent discoveries at the Jinsha Site include amazing relics. One such relic is the Golden Sun Bird.

太阳神鸟金箔片, 2017-09-17
太阳神鸟金箔片, 2017-09-17

In 316 BC, the Qin state conquered the Shu lands. A Qin general named Zhang Yi later built the city walls. In 256 BC, a governor named Li Bing built the Dujiangyan irrigation system.

Dujiang Weir (cropped)
Dujiang Weir (cropped)

This system is now a World Heritage Site. It has kept the Chengdu Plain fertile for centuries.

Transportation in Chengdu is vital for connecting Eastern and Western China. The city has two international airports. These are Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and the new Tianfu International Airport. These airports are hubs for Air China and Sichuan Airlines. Together, they are among the 30 busiest airports in the world. The Chengdu railway station is also one of the six largest in China. The city is classified as a "Beta +" city by the GaWC. This puts it in the same category as Barcelona and Washington, D.C.

Culture and nature are deeply connected in Chengdu. The city is closely associated with the giant panda. This animal is a national symbol of China. People visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see them.

Chengdu Research Base Eingang
Chengdu Research Base Eingang

In 2011, UNESCO recognized Chengdu as a city of gastronomy. This is because the local food culture is so significant. Visitors often enjoy local dishes like hot pot.

Hot pot.
Hot pot.

The city also hosts many foreign consulates. As of 2023, there are 23 foreign consulates in the city. This is the fourth most in China.

631 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (41)
File:Archaeological Site of Jinsha.jpg
Archaeological Site of Jinsha.jpg
File:Dujiang Weir (cropped).jpg
Dujiang Weir (cropped).jpg
File:Paris - Cathédrale Notre-Dame - Trésor de la cathédrale - Ornements sacerdotaux -3.JPG
Paris - Cathédrale Notre-Dame - Trésor de...
File:Huangcenba of Chengdu.jpg
Huangcenba of Chengdu.jpg
File:Polikarpov I-16 (China Aviation Museum).jpg
Polikarpov I-16 (China Aviation Museum).jpg
File:PLA Troops entered to Chengdu.jpg
PLA Troops entered to Chengdu.jpg
File:Txu-oclc-10552568-nh48-6.jpg
Txu-oclc-10552568-nh48-6.jpg
File:Jinli at Night 7.jpg
Jinli at Night 7.jpg
File:平安桥主教座堂-2022.jpg
平安桥主教座堂-2022.jpg
File:Sichuan opera Chengdu.jpg
Sichuan opera Chengdu.jpg
File:Teahouse in Peoples Park - Chengdu, China - DSC05350.jpg
Teahouse in Peoples Park - Chengdu, China...
File:Loose Jasmine Tea Leaves.jpg
Loose Jasmine Tea Leaves.jpg

+ 29 more

More to explore

✨ What else?

Related topics you might enjoy

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.